A. D. 1779. 6^s 



diftrefs likely to be fliort or tranfient. The northern parts of Germany, 

 and alfo the neighbouring countries, were already attempting to avail 

 themfelves of the opportunity thrown into their hands, and of their 

 low prices of cattle and labour, fo as to get pofleflion of the provifion 

 trade : but, though they made great efforts, and fpared no expenfe in 

 obtaining curers and fait proper for the bufmefs, the cargoes they fent 

 to France were found to iland in no degree of competition with the 

 Irifh provifions. The Irifh, however, could not fail to be much alarmed, 

 when they fuw the main rtaple of the trade of the greateft part of their 

 country * in danger of being annihilated. Nor was the condition of 

 the northern part of the illand, the feat of the linen manufadure, much 

 better, the exportation of ihat article having been greatly reduced by 

 the war. In addition to thefe grievances, many of their veflels were 

 taken by the enemy, the lofs of which, though not of fo great a value 

 as thofe taken from Britain, fell heavier upon a country pollefled of lefs 

 capital. Thefe derangements of the commerce of Ireland were attended 

 by their never-failing confequences, a flagnation of credit, and the dif- 

 miflion of many thoufands of workmen, who, with their families, were 

 reduced to a ftarving condition. Though the charity of the higher 

 ranks was fo very liberally exerted on this occafion, that, it is laid, 

 twenty thoufand poor people were dayly fed in the one city of Dublin, 

 yet that was only an alleviation, which could not poflibly be permanent, 

 and the poor people were ftill unhappy : for it is not gratis food, but a 

 capacity to buy their own food by means of fufficient employment, that 

 can give iubftantial relief to the labouring part of the community, and 

 make them feel themfelves comfortable and happy. 



It was reprefented in parliament, that, if the grievances of Ireland 

 lliould not be fpcedily redrelled, that country would infallibly be depo- 

 pulated ; that the people, aduated by the impuHe of the tirfi: law of na- 

 ture, would emigrate to America, where their countrymen already 

 formed a principal ])art of the armies now combating againll the mo- 

 ther country ; and that, when that event lliould take place, the exports 

 of Great Britain muft be abridged by confidcrably more than two mil- 

 lions a-year, befidcs the lofs to be fuflained by the failure of Iriih rents 

 fpent in iMigland, and the drains by penfions, finecure places, law- 

 fuitR, and journies of bulinefs and pleafure. 



The clamour, which had laft year been fo violent againll admitting 

 the Irifli to a participation of commercial privileges, had now in a 

 great meafure lubfidcd. But ftill there were fome petitions prefented 



• The m.igiutude of the Irilli provifion trade lioni on IrelanJ, p. 97, ei!. 1785.] Cork, to he 



may be jiidpecl of from the duty of one penny per fure, is the chlet feat of the provifion trade ; but 



head on all cattle entciin^ the gales of Cork there .ire feveral other towns, whicli do a vaft deal 



amountinj; to [,f>oo yearly, whence the number ap- in it. 



peats to be 144,000. \^LorJ ShrJiiLPt OJferva- 



4 L 2 



